Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Wearin' O' the Green


 Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are seeing a few signs of spring
after this very long winter!
I know that some of you already are, some of you are still 
dealing with Old Man Winter, and some of you are just now
moving towards autumn. 


Here in the Cascade foothills of Washington State, 
we are seeing a few signs of spring, such as crocus, 
early daffodils, pansies and some tiny buds on the trees.

Although, we do still get a few snowflakes or hail drifting this way. 


So, while I wait for the warmth of the sun, 
I've been busy bringing a bit o' the green inside. 


With a little help from my friend, Kai. 
xx
(Who always has to be the center of attention,
which we lovingly indulge.)


I guess he is a little bit bored! Shhhh!
Let sleeping dogs lie. 

The sun finally came out, with rays shining through the skylight. 



I made the little heart pillow with a crochet edge a few years ago. 
The green check and gingham pillows are sewn from tea towels. 
I've had my 'Irish Lace' pillows so long that they are 
considered 'vintage'. 
As am I. 

xx

'The older the fiddle the sweeter the tune'
-Irish proverb-


I imagine that this could be a scene from the Irish countryside, don't you think?

'May you never forget what is worth remembering
nor ever remember what is best forgotten'
-Irish Proverb-


Pretty, hand-painted plates. 
xx


Those of you who have followed my blog for a while,
know that I am mostly Scots Irish, so I always
try to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. 

This is the 12th anniversary of the start of my blog, 
by the way! 
Time certainly likes to fly by. 
I have made so many talented, kind and creative friends 
during this time. 
All truly kindred spirits. 
Thank you for your dear friendship!
It means so much to me. 

xoxo


What's a green polka-dot bucket without two green birds?



I love green depression glass. 
I've been collecting it for years - a little at a time. 
It's not so popular anymore, and pieces are harder to find, 
but I always keep my eyes open to add to my collection. 

The 1930's is definitely my favorite era. 
My (and Ramblin' Man's) grandparents lived through the Great Depression,
and our parents were born in that decade. 
Times were very hard and they told us stories 
of their lives growing up during that time. 

Of gathering coal, fallen from railcars along the tracks
to heat the house. 
Of having only two sets of clothes, down to the socks, 
and washing them out by hand in the sink to 
make sure they always had something to wear. 
Of going barefoot in the summer, to save the only pair 
of shoes they had for church. 
Of buying one soup bone for the week
and making stew every night with that one bone to 
feed a family of ten, with vegetables they picked
as wages. 
Of my father selling newspapers on the streetcorner
at only five years old to help make ends meet, 
and a well-to-do couple approaching my grandparents 
about adopting him, and my grandparents saying, "No, 
we might be poor, but we are blessed with an abundance of love."

What shines through all their stories is their love 
for one another, and their resilience and determination 
to work hard throughout their lives to make 
sure their children and grandchildren had 
better lives. 

These pretty dishes are symbols of the hope and desire 
to make the best of a difficult situation during 
those trying times. 

Amazing that they have survived this long to be 
enjoyed by the descendants of those brave homemakers 
all those years ago. 



This little honey-pot was a gift from a dear loved one. 
xx

All ready for a spot of Irish tea. 


A sweet embroidery - a thrifty find. 


The measuring cup was the first piece I found, many years ago,
when I was a young homemaker. 

There are two bowls, one inside the other. 
I'm sure there is a middle size, 
because the bowls don't quite nest properly, 
so, I will keep my eyes open for that. 
The spice jar is one of 3 and is a reproduction. 



My Irish angel. 
A gift from a dear one. 


The Ball canning jars were a re-issue of a vintage style
that I bought new a few years ago. 

My shamrock mugs were a 'lucky' on-line find. 


May the sun shine all day
long, everything go right and 
nothing wrong.

May those you love, bring love
back to you, and may all the 
wishes you wish come true! 
xx


The green egg cup is a survivor of a set from 
one of my Mom's wedding gifts in the early 1950's. 


A Dear Friend gave me the shamrock mugs: 'Herself and Himself'. 


I have only two of these pretty transferware plates. 
I feel another collection coming on...






I am ready for some serious tea drinking. 

I need to dig out all of my scone recipes! 

The 'Happy' mug, plaid plate and small green teapot 
are sweet gifts from loved ones. 


My son, Gabe, painted this when he was in Jr. High School! 

He's never pursued his artistic talents beyond this, though, unfortunately. 

He's a very busy husband and father, with a demanding 
job in the tech industry, so no time for artistic pursuits at the moment. 


A basket full of St. Patrick's Day cards sent to me over the years. 



Vintage cards I have collected here and there. 


Postmark 1909. 
Not really a St. Patrick's Day card, but could pass for one. 





Sweet little tokens of remembrance from so long ago. 


Some blooms from my indoor garden. 




I've had this orchid for years - a gift from my daughter-in-law. 
This is the first time it has rebloomed! 
Such a sweet surprise. 



These are 'Donkey Tail' cactus blooms. 
Believe it or not, I've had these plants for over 30 years. 
They are easy to propagate, and so I have quite a few. 
It always makes me happy to see them bloom. 



Flowers outside my windows. 

xx

I've been incredibly busy the last few weeks. 
Ramblin' Man has had a few minor health scares, 
which didn't seem so minor at the time, but are resolving 
themselves in a positive way. 

That has been pretty stressful. 

We've also been very busy with the grandboys - having them over, 
going to a science fair (a home-made volcano was exhibited),
and visits with the family. 
I had a nice lunch date with my two daughters recently, 
and everyone (all four families) are coming over on Easter. 

A good friend of ours also had a health scare, 
and that has us worried, too. 
We are having him and his wife over on St. Patrick's Day for dinner. 
They've had a rough time of it the last few years, 
having lost their son to an undiagnosed heart condition, 
 and also losing several friends and siblings. 
Their positive attitude and resilience are truly 
inspirational and they are wonderful 
role models for their daughter and 4 grandchildren, 
two of whom lost their father (their son).

xx

I've been busy trying to empty an upstairs bedroom
to turn into a guest room for grandboy sleepovers, and guests. 
It was once my craft room, (after my boys grew up) but then it turned 
into a sort of storage space for miscellaneous orphaned things. 
In other words - a big mess. 
 Ramblin' Man has been busy doing yard work 
in between all the health issues, and we are having gutter guards
installed next week to keep him off the 30 ft. ladder. 

Oh, and we had Covid a 2nd time, but thankfully 
it was a relatively mild case. 

So please forgive me if I have been distracted lately and 
not around much. It seems since Ramblin' Man retired, 
we haven't had much time to actually 'retire', but 
that's what keeps you going, I guess.
 
Still, sometimes I'd rather be sipping something tropical on a beach!

xx 

' May the most you wish for be the least you get'
-Irish Proverb-




But, for now I am just grateful for many small blessings and positive outcomes. 
And the beautiful view of Mt. Rainier whenever the clouds lift. 

Spring is here, the flowers are blooming once more, the birds are singing, 
and we can finally put Old Man Winter to bed once more. 
Hopefully. 

I know so many are dealing with terrible weather, still, 
and disastrous in some places, and my heart and prayers are with you. 

"There but for the grace of God go I."
-John Bradford-
xx



May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. 


xx
 





Friday, February 10, 2023

Sentimental Heart

 


Hello, Dear Friends, I want to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day
and send you this token of affection. 
xx

You all know that I have a sentimental heart, 
  and holidays are always special to me. 
It gives me an opportunity to mark the passing of time,
as that is something that always seems to slip away 
much too quickly. 


I've been having fun decorating, 
and putting together some sweet vignettes. 


I've always wanted one of those tiered servers, 
but they all seem too large and too rustic for my 
small cottage kitchen. 
So I created one that was just the right size!
I used a vintage coffee tin, a white candlestick, 
a metal jar lid, and an egg cup! 
My Grandson made the little heart from play-clay
a couple of years ago. 
xx

Ramblin' Man found this little mail box 
for the play-hut, but I borrowed it temporarily. 



It goes with the post box that I already had.
Ramblin' Man finds heart rocks for me, 
and he painted this one. 
He's a sentimental fool, just like me. 
xx 




He bought me these silly little pillows a couple of years ago, too. 


Polka dots and plaid. 



So pretty when the sun shines, 
which is rare this time of year!
Whenever it does shine, it makes me
so happy. 


I wish you could come over for a cup of tea
and a little treat! 
In a perfect world we would all live close by, wouldn't we? 
But then we would not be able to share our unique 
little corner of the world with one another! 




My vintage crochet pot-holder collection has a new
addition - a little dress. 
These were popular in the 30's and 40's. 
xx


Vintage blocks. 


My refrigerator was decorated by my grandson. 


My fancied-up candy boxes. 


I was thinking about how many ways we use the word, 'heart' to describe 
our feelings or someone's personality. 

I came up with quite a list! 
I'm sure you can think of some, too!



Tender Hearted
Brave Heart
Heavy Heart
Bleeding Heart


Hardhearted
Softhearted
Sweetheart


Happy Heart 
Lonely Heart
Broken Heart
Mended Heart


Captured Heart
Caged Heart
Key to my Heart


Kindhearted
Lighthearted 
Gentle Heart



Loving Heart
Weary Heart
No Heart
Cold Heart


Big Heart
Heartache
Heart Sick
Empty Heart


Singing Heart
Grieving Heart
Hopeful Heart
Simple Heart


Leaping Heart
Cheating Heart
Cruel Heart
Lying Heart


A Heart full of love. 
A Heart full of woe. 
Heart's Desire
Heart Breaker


Heart Stopper
Crazy Heart
Heart Song
Heart Felt 
Giving Heart


What describes your heart, Dear Friends?

Mine is a Grateful Heart for having such 
wonderful friends as you. 

I also have a Grieving Heart for all those 
suffering in the world right now. 

But I have a faithful and hopeful heart, 
that mankind will live up to its name. 

Man-Kind. 

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.
Without them, humanity cannot survive".
- Dalai Lama -

"There never was any heart truly great and generous, 
that was not also tender and compassionate".
- Robert Frost -

"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart". 
- Jane Austen -




"Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes.
Because for those who love with heart and soul
there is no such thing as separation".

- Rumi -


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